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The day I visited the Big Sable lighthouse, it was the tenth of ten visits on a day started across the state line in Michigan City, Indiana.

We were, as is said, "burning daylight" when I pulled into Ludington State Park and asked the park ranger for directions.

Each lighthouse visit includes a fair amount of walking. I like walking down the shore for long shots; trying to get as close as possible; and search for interesting angles.

Big Sable (Grande Pointe au Sable in French) is on the mainland, but it stands alone.

The ranger directed us to park in a nearby parking lot, and explained a .8 mile walk through the campground would lead me to a 1.3 path to the light. In and of itself, not a big deal. However, it was less than two hours until sunset and a 4 mile walk would use most of it.

I took off at a brisk pace with an eye out for the setting sun.

Mindful of the clock, I started to jog, thankful it was packed down unlike the dunes which seemed to grab every foot fall.

Which is how I landed at the Market Street Diner in Sun Prairie for breakfast recently.

Crisp bacon, delicious oatmeal, and some chocolate milk; plus a full water bottle thanks to a very kind server and I was off.

There was a favorable wind, and that can be all the difference.

Market Street, Sun Prairie was the starting point, then I headed west on Main Street. A couple of direction changes and it was on to Hoepker. Hoepker is a mix of country road and growing retail. I rode it end to end then turned left.

Just over a mile later, after passing VFW Post 4383 and an impressive Independence Day display of American Flags, the runways of Truax Field were on my left.

Then came a turn north and a zig-zag putting me on Westport Road.

The two lane road clings to the edge of Lake Mendota. It is mostly marsh for several miles before the Yahara River passes under a bridge and widens …